Fluid control nozzle for conduit cleaner

Abstract

A power unit for a conduit cleaner. The conduit cleaner has a motor with a housing carrying a shaft that is rotatable about an axis. The motor operates in response to the introduction of a pressurized fluid. The housing has inlets for admitting pressurized fluid and an outlet to permit the discharge thereof. A nozzle is connected to the housing and is configured to direct fluid from a pressurized supply to the housing inlet and direct fluid discharged from the outlet out of the power unit. The nozzle has a substantially cylindrical outer surface. In one form, the nozzle does not project beyond the cylindrical outer surface. Accordingly, a compact unit can be made according to the present invention. The absence of radially projecting structure also avoids protrusions that may intercept roots or other foreign matter within a conduit and thereby interrupt free movement of the conduit cleaner through a conduit.

I claim: 
     
       1. A power unit for a conduit cleaner, said power unit comprising: a motor having a housing, a shaft, and means for mounting the shaft to the housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis,   said motor including first means responsive to a pressurized fluid for rotating said motor shaft,   said housing further defining an inlet for admitting pressurized fluid to the first means for operation thereof and an outlet to permit the discharge of fluid used to operate the first means away from the first means;   a nozzle including a second means for directing fluid from a pressurized supply in a leading direction to the housing inlet and a third means for directing fluid discharged from the outlet out of the power unit; and   means for connecting the nozzle to the motor,   wherein the nozzle has a body with a substantially cylindrical outer surface and axially spaced ends and the second and third means do not project radially beyond the outer surface of the nozzle, to permit an overall compact construction for the power unit,   there being at least one jet orifice defined in said nozzle for directing fluid from a pressurized supply thereof away from said nozzle,   said nozzle including fourth means for communicating fluid from a supply in the second means to and through the jet orifice in a trailing direction to externally of the nozzle within the axial extent of the nozzle.   
     
     
       2. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle defines a pressure chamber that is in communication with the housing inlet and the nozzle is defined as one piece. 
     
     
       3. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the jet orifice is in communication with the pressure chamber and is configured to direct fluid angularly with respect to the nozzle axis. 
     
     
       4. A power unit for a conduit cleaner, said power unit comprising: a motor having a housing, a shaft, and means for mounting the shaft to the housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis,   said motor including first means responsive to a pressurized fluid for rotating said motor shaft.   said housing further defining an inlet for admitting pressurized fluid to the first means for operation thereof and an outlet to permit the discharge of fluid used to operate the first means away from the first means;   a nozzle including a second means for directing fluid from a pressurized supply to the housing inlet and a third means for directing fluid discharged from the outlet out of the power unit; and   means for connecting the nozzle to the motor,   wherein the nozzle has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and the second and third means do not project radially beyond the outer surface of the nozzle, to permit an overall compact construction for the power unit.   wherein the nozzle defines a pressure chamber that is in communication with the housing inlet and the nozzle is defined as one piece,   wherein the nozzle has a central axis ad there is at least one jet orifice defined in said nozzle for directing fluid from a pressurized supply thereof away from said nozzle.   wherein the jet orifice is in communication with the pressure chamber and is configured to direct fluid angularly with respect to the nozzle axis,   there further being a fitting defining the jet orifice and there are cooperating means on the fitting and nozzle for removably connecting the fitting to the nozzle, whereby fittings having different jet orifice size can be used as desired to alter the operating characteristics of the power unit.   
     
     
       5. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 4 in combination with first and second fittings each with a jet orifice with means to allow connection of one of the first and second fittings to the nozzle, wherein the first and second fittings have different size jet orifices. 
     
     
       6. A power unit for a conduit cleaner, said power unit comprising: a motor having a housing, a shaft, and means for mounting the shaft to the housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis.   said motor including first means responsive to a pressurized fluid for rotating said motor shaft,   said housing further defining an inlet for admitting pressurized fluid to the first means for operation thereof and an outlet to permit the discharge of fluid used to operate the first means away from the first means:   a nozzle including a second means for directing fluid from a pressurized supply to the housing inlet ad a third means for directing fluid discharged from the outlet out of the power unit; and   means for connecting the nozzle to the motor,   wherein the nozzle has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and the second and third means do not project, radially beyond the outer surface of the nozzle, to permit an overall compact construction for the power unit,   there further being a grease fitting on at least one of the nozzle and motor housing, said grease fitting having a through bore in communication with the housing outlet to allow passage therethrough of fluid discharging from the housing outlet, whereby the grease fitting facilitates introduction of a lubricant to the first means.   
     
     
       7. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle and rotor cooperatively define a first subassembly with a substantially cylindrical outer surface and the second and third means do not project radially beyond the outer surface of the first subassembly. 
     
     
       8. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the subassembly has a substantially constant diameter over substantially the entire axial extent thereof. 
     
     
       9. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle defines a pressure chamber in communication with the housing inlet, the motor housing has a cylindrical outer surface with a first, substantially uniform diameter, the nozzle has an outer surface portion with a corresponding first diameter and the pressure chamber resides at least partially in axial coincidence with the nozzle portion having the outer surface with said first diameter. 
     
     
       10. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the power unit has axially spaced front/leading and rear/trailing ends, the nozzle includes means for operatively connecting the nozzle to the end of a fluid supply conduit, the nozzle has a wall at the trailing end thereof with a flat, rearwardly facing surface, and only the means for operatively connecting to the end of a fluid supply conduit projects axially in a trailing direction beyond said flat, rearwardly facing nozzle surface. 
     
     
       11. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 10 wherein the means for connecting the nozzle comprises at least one fastener extending axially through the rearwardly facing flat surface on the nozzle and into the motor housing. 
     
     
       12. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the at least one fastener resides fully radially outside of the means on the nozzle for operatively connecting to the end of a fluid supply conduit to be readily accessible for the trailing end of the power unit. 
     
     
       13. A nozzle for use in conjunction with a fluid operated motor having a shaft, a housing defining a fluid inlet and outlet, and means for mounting the shaft to the housing for rotation relative to the housing about an axis, said nozzle comprising: a body having first means for directing fluid from a pressurized supply to an inlet on a motor housing and a second means for directing fluid discharged from a motor housing outlet to externally of the nozzle,   there being at least one bore in the nozzle body for directing incoming fluid from a pressurized supply simultaneously in a prescribed pattern to externally of the nozzle;   a fitting having a through opening; and   means for connecting the fitting to the body at least partially within the nozzle body bore so that incoming fluid from a pressurized supply can flow through the bore in the nozzle body and the through opening in the fitting.   
     
     
       14. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the means for connecting the fitting to the body comprises means for removably connecting the fitting to the body so that fittings with different size bores therethrough can be interchanged. 
     
     
       15. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the bore in the nozzle body has spaced first and second ends and the fitting extends substantially fully between the spaced ends of the nozzle body bore. 
     
     
       16. The power unit for a conduit cleaner according to claim 14 wherein the means for connecting the fitting to the body comprises cooperating threads on the nozzle body and fitting to allow the fitting to be threaded into and out of the nozzle body and the fitting has a receptacle for a tool that can be used to rotate the fitting. 
     
     
       17. A power unit for a conduit cleaner, said power unit comprising: a motor having a housing, a shaft and means for mounting the shaft for movement relative to the housing about an axis,   said motor including first means responsive to a pressurized fluid for rotating said motor shaft,   said housing further defining an inlet for admitting pressurized fluid to the first means for operation thereof and an outlet to permit the discharge of fluid used to operate the first means away from the first means;   a nozzle including a second means for directing fluid from a pressurized supply to the housing inlet and a third means for directing fluid discharged from the outlet out of the power unit;   means for connecting the nozzle to the motor; and   a grease fitting on at least one of the nozzle and motor housing, said grease fitting having a through bore in communication with the housing outlet to allow passage therethrough of fluid discharging from the housing outlet, whereby the grease fitting also facilitates introduction of a lubricant to the first means.   
     
     
       18. The power unit according to claim 17 wherein cooperating means are provided on the grease fitting and the at least one of the nozzle and motor housing to removably connect the grease fitting to the at least one of the nozzle and motor housing. 
     
     
       19. The power unit according to claim 17 wherein the grease fitting is configured to connect to a conventional grease gun.